Man arrested after Berwick bank robbery released

BERWICK, Maine — Berwick police have released a male suspect who was arrested following a bank robbery in the town last week.

Police combed through neighborhoods in Berwick and Somersworth, N.H., on Friday after a person made a bomb threat at Kennebunk Savings Bank and escaped with cash a few minutes before noon.

Residents living a neighborhood near the bank reported seeing a man get arrested after leading police on a foot chase through their backyards between noon and 12:30 p.m. Berwick Police Capt. Jerry Locke confirmed last week that a man was arrested following the bank robbery, but said at the time police were still investigating his actions.

Locke declined to comment Monday on whether the man remains a suspect in the bank robbery investigation.

"All I can say is that we did take somebody into custody and interviewed him, questioned him, and released him," Locke said.

Witnesses said they believe the robber was a man wearing a woman's wig. The robber had long, brown hair and was wearing white surgical tape across the knuckles of both hands, according to police. The robber was said to be carrying a black-and-white checkered purse and wearing a red hooded sweat shirt and pink pants with white sneakers.

Locke said Monday police haven't made a final determination as to whether the robber was male or female.

"We're not ruling anything out," he said. "That's their opinion — that they felt like the person was a man — witnesses."

Police say the robber entered the bank shortly before 11:54 a.m. and made a verbal demand for cash. No weapon was shown, but the robber indicated he or she was carrying a bomb. The robber escaped from the bank on foot and headed toward Back Street, a small road that runs behind a row of businesses.

Police have released three surveillance camera photographs of the bank robber, who is seen approaching the building, lifting a pair of wide-rimmed sunglasses and striding toward the entrance. The pictures appear to show something contained underneath the robber's sweat shirt.

The robbery occurred within minutes of police receiving a false report of a stabbing at a mobile home park about one mile from the bank. Locke said last week authorities believe the erroneous report was a diversion. He said police in Kittery, Maine, received a similar report of a stabbing earlier in the day Friday, which was also false.

"It's an ongoing active investigation," Locke said.

Anyone with any information about the case is asked to contact Berwick Police Detective William Russell at 207-698-1136. A confidential reward is available for information leading to the capture and conviction of the robber.